Usage Note: Grow is most often used as an intransitive verb, as in The corn grew fast or Our business has been growing steadily for 10 years. This use dates back to the Middle Ages. In the 1700s, a transitive sense arose with the meaning "to produce or cultivate," as in We grow corn in our garden. Then, starting in the late 1900s, people began to use grow with a nonliving thing or even an abstraction as the direct object, often in the context of politics or business, as in One of our key strategies is to grow our business by increasing the number of clients. This trend was widely criticized. In 1992, only 20 percent of the Usage Panel accepted the sentence above, and only 48 percent accepted We've got to grow our way out of this recession. These usages remain common, however, and resistance to them has lessened: in 2014, 60 percent of the Panel accepted the grow our business sentence, and 65 percent accepted the grow our way out of the recession sentence. But Panelists strongly frown upon the phrase grow down, probably because it seems oxymoronic: 96 percent of the Panel found it unacceptable.

grow

(ɡrəʊ)

vb, grows, growing, grew (ɡruː) orgrown (ɡrəʊn)

1. (Biology) (of an organism or part of an organism) to increase in size or develop (hair, leaves, or other structures)

2. (intr; usually foll by out of or from) to originate, as from an initial cause or source: the federation grew out of the Empire.

3. (intr) to increase in size, number, degree, etc: the population is growing rapidly.

4. (intr) to change in length or amount in a specified direction: some plants grow downwards; profits over the years grew downwards.

5. (copula; may take an infinitive) (esp of emotions, physical states, etc) to develop or come into existence or being gradually: to grow cold; to grow morose; he grew to like her.

6. (usually foll by: up) to come into existence: a close friendship grew up between them.

7. (foll by: together) to be joined gradually by or as by growth: the branches on the tree grew together.

8. (intr; foll by away, together, etc) to develop a specified state of friendship: the lovers grew together gradually; many friends grow apart over the years.

9. (when: intr, foll by with) to become covered with a growth: the path grew with weeds.

10. (Agriculture) to produce (plants) by controlling or encouraging their growth, esp for home consumption or on a commercial basis

[Old English grōwan; related to Old Norse grōa, Old Frisian grōia, Old High German gruoen; see green, grass]

grow

(groʊ)

v. grew, grown, grow•ing.v.i.

1. to increase in size by a natural process of development.

2. to come into being and develop: a plant that grows wild here.

3. to form and increase in size by a process of inorganic accretion, as by crystallization.

4. to arise or issue as a natural development: Our friendship grew from common interests.

5. to increase gradually in size, amount, etc.; expand: Her influence has grown.

6. to become gradually attached or united by or as if by growth.

7. to come to be by degrees; become: to grow old.

v.t.

8. to cause to grow: They grow corn; to grow a business.

9. to allow to grow: to grow a beard.

10. to cover with a growth (used in the passive): a field grown with corn.

11. grow into,

a. to become large or tall enough to wear (an item of clothing).

b. to become mature or experienced enough to handle.

12. grow on or upon,

a. to increase in influence or effect.

b. to become gradually more liked or accepted by.

13. grow out of,

a. to become too large or mature for; outgrow.

b. to originate in; develop from.

14. grow up,

a. to be or become fully grown; attain maturity.

b. to come into existence; arise.

[before 900; Middle English; Old English grōwan, c. Middle Dutch groeyen, Old High German grouwan, Old Norse grōa]

grow

1. 'grow'

When children or young animals grow, they become bigger or taller. The past tense of grow is grew. The -ed participle is grown.

The doctor will check that the baby is growing normally.

The plant grew to a height of over 1 metre.

Has he grown any taller?

2. 'grow up'

When someone grows up, they gradually change from a child into an adult.

He grew up in Cambridge.

They grew up at a time when there was no television.

Be Careful!Don't confuse the verbs grow up and bring up. If you bring up a child, you look after it as it grows up. Don't say 'grow up a child'.

stretch - become longer by being stretched and pulled; "The fabric stretches"

develop - grow, progress, unfold, or evolve through a process of evolution, natural growth, differentiation, or a conducive environment; "A flower developed on the branch"; "The country developed into a mighty superpower"; "The embryo develops into a fetus"; "This situation has developed over a long time"

expand - become larger in size or volume or quantity; "his business expanded rapidly"

develop - grow, progress, unfold, or evolve through a process of evolution, natural growth, differentiation, or a conducive environment; "A flower developed on the branch"; "The country developed into a mighty superpower"; "The embryo develops into a fetus"; "This situation has developed over a long time"

find oneself, find - accept and make use of one's personality, abilities, and situation; "My son went to Berkeley to find himself"

develop - grow, progress, unfold, or evolve through a process of evolution, natural growth, differentiation, or a conducive environment; "A flower developed on the branch"; "The country developed into a mighty superpower"; "The embryo develops into a fetus"; "This situation has developed over a long time"

grow - come into existence; take on form or shape; "A new religious movement originated in that country"; "a love that sprang up from friendship"; "the idea for the book grew out of a short story"; "An interesting phenomenon uprose"

grow - come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes); "He grew a beard"; "The patient developed abdominal pains"; "I got funny spots all over my body"; "Well-developed breasts"

regrow - grow anew or continue growth after an injury or interruption; "parts of the trunk of this tree can regrow"; "some invertebrates can regrow limbs or their tail after they lost it due to an injury"

change - undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature; "She changed completely as she grew older"; "The weather changed last night"

develop, evolve, acquire - gain through experience; "I acquired a strong aversion to television"; "Children must develop a sense of right and wrong"; "Dave developed leadership qualities in his new position"; "develop a passion for painting"

9.

grow - grow emotionally or mature; "The child developed beautifully in her new kindergarten"; "When he spent a summer at camp, the boy grew noticeably and no longer showed some of his old adolescent behavior"

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